Reciprocating flange forming apparatus



Aug. 5,1958 G. LOCATIS 2,845,982

RECIPROCATING FLANGE FORMING APPARATUS Filed May 2, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENT0R g 5 947/ g- 1958 L. G. LOCATIS 2,845,982

RECIPROCATING FLANGE FORMING APPARATUS Filed May 2, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 :I I I l I 4 I I /l I 24 5 52 52 25 ,ii 50 Ii I 7 [H 1! H77 10/ Mi INVENTOR.

United States Patent RECIPROCATING FLANGE FORMING APPARATUS ileo GiLocatis, Reseda, Calif., assignor to The Houston- FearlessCorporation, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Application May 2, 1955, Serial No. 505,370 Claims. Cl. 153-25 This invention relates generally to apparatus for forming sheet metal or plates, and more particularly to a machine which is advantageously used in forming a flange or rim upon a non-linear or arcuate edge of relatively large parts.

In the fabrication of tanks, drums, and many other articles, it is desirable to form flanges along the edges of certain parts for attachments purposes and structural rigidity. If the edge of the part is of non-linear shape the formation of such a flange or rim involves a very diflicult metal working problem. For example, a typical desired part is a circular disc having a perpendicularly turned flange formed around the circumferential edge thereof. If the part is to be created from a flat circular blankthe flange is shaped from an annular ring portion having difierent internal and external diameters. Yet the finished flange is to have the same diameter at both its 'base and free ends. Thus, to form the flange, the metal in the wall thereof must not only be bent, but must be worked so as to increase the wall thickness in proportion to the reduction in diameter of the outer edge.-

In the hand working of metals such as in the silversmiths art, the formation of a flange of the type just described is accomplished by the use of a raising hammer through which blows are delivered in a direction to bend the metal and at the same time increase the wall thickness of the flange. In modern manufacturing and production, the method of forming such a flange involves the use of drawing or spinning machinery wherein the metal isworked over suitable molds or dies to take the required shape. Such equipment is extremely large and expensiveand involves the use of molds and dies which are as large as the entire part to be shaped, and are suitable for forming only one particular sizeand shape of part. Where only limited production of particularly shaped parts is to be run, the use of conventional drawing and spinning machinery istherefore impractical as the costs would be excessive. Yet prior to the present invention, the only alternative to the use of the conventional equipment has been to hand-shape the desired flange.

With the foregoing in mind it 'is therefore a major object of the present invention'to provide apparatus for forming a flange upon the edge of a sheet metal part which isrelatively' compact and inexpensive, and is suitable for use on many difierent sizes and shapes of parts.

'An equally important object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the character described which is capable of not only bending but working the metal of the edge portion of the part to produce a continuous nonlinear flange wherein the wall thickness is increased to accommodate for diametral reductions.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a machine for forming flanges of difierent depths and which is capable of working upon sheet stock of varying thickness." a

A further object of the invention is to provide flangeforniing apparatus having a reciprocating impact head ice which 'is operable to bend the edge of a part and at the same time drive the material thereof away from the edge for accomplishing a reduction in diameter of the shaped edge. Still another object of the invention is to provide machine of the character described having holding means for movably positioning the work and interconnected feeding means for advancing the work as the flange is shaped. v y

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred form thereof and from an inspection of the accompanying drawings in which:--

Figure l is a side elevation of the complete apparatus; Figure 2 is a view taken along the line ure 1; t l. Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentaryelevation of the anvil and hammer means;

Figure 4 is a cross section taken along the line 44 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a cross section taken along the line 55 of Figure 3; and

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the anvil and impact head.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to Figure 1 thereof, a bed or frame 10 for supporting the operating elements of the apparatus has a horizontal rectangular table 11 which is of relatively narrow elongated shape. At one end of table 10 is a projecting strut or bracket 12 which supports a short vertical standard 13. A motor support bracket 14 projects from the other end of table 10 and adjacent thereto is a short vertical standard 15 which together with standard 13 positions anupper horizontal track 16 in overhanging parallel relationship to the table.

The longitudinal axis of table 11 is the operating or working axis of the apparatus, and all of the operating elements which are required are positioned with reference thereto. These elements include a fixed anvil means 17 and relatively movable hammer means 18 which are mounted on table 11 at the working end of the apparatus adjacent to motor support bracket 14. Anvil means 17 is positioned on the operating axis and has an outwardlyfacing surface which is adapted to cooperate with the hammer means 18, the latter being mounted for reciprocation towards and away from the anvil means along the operating axis, to bend and work a segment of the and 'upper' clamping disc 21 is provided. The work which is in the form of a flat plate or sheet P extends, horizontally, and is gripped tightly between clamping discs 20 and 21. Lower disc 20 is held against vertical movement, and upper disc 21 is mounted on the end of a stem 22 for. vertical movement towards and away.

from the lower disc for clamping the 1 work therebetween. e 1

In forming a flange it is necessary to move the plate P along the operating axis towards hammer means 18, and also to move the plate so that successive portions of the edge pass in front of the hammer means. If the plate P has a circular or partially circular shape so thatthe edge thereof is concentric about a center, movementsof the plate to position successive portions of the edge in front. of the hammer means can be accomplished by turning or rotating the plate. For these reasons, clampingdiscs20,

and 21 are supported for sliding movement alon gthe 2-2 of Figoperating axis and are also mounted for rotation about a central vertical axis.

Lower disc is rotatably journaled upon a carriage .24 which is formed as a rectangular block having up- Wardly :tapered guide strips secured along the sides thereof. 'The .guide strips 25 fit slidably within complemental tapered guide rails 26 which are rigidly secured to table 11 so as to extend parallel to the operating axis. Guide rails 26 thus confine carriage 241for sliding movement along the operating axis, and at :the same time hold it downwardly so that it cannot lift away from the surface of table 11.

Asis best seen in Figure 4, upper disc 21 is rotatably mounted on the end of stem 22 and the latter is threadedly engaged within an upper nut 28 for vertical adjustment through the operation of a top handwheel 29 (Figure 1). Track 16 is formed with a pair of opposed side rails 30 having inturned flanges for confining a plurality of rollers 31 which are mounted on nut 28. Rollers 31 move easily along track 16 so that the entire clamping means can thus be rotated and moved along the operating axis while tightly gripping plate P.

For the purpose of centering a plate P upon disc 20, an upstanding centering pin 32 may be provided thereon. Also, as is seen in Figure '4, the face of disc 20 may be provided with a resilient pad 33 for protecting the surface of plate P against marring. Movement of plate P along the operating axis is controlled by a lead screw 35 which is rotatably connected to carriage 24 and extends along the operating axis away from anvil means 17. Lead screw 35 passes through a boss 36 rigidly mounted at the end of table 11 and is threadedly engaged therein for advancement and retraction. On the outer end of screw 35 is a pivoted handle 37 which is used to rotate the screw slowly for advancing the work towards the hammer means 18. Initially, plate P is positioned so that it overhangs anvil means 17 with just a very small depth of the edge in the path of hammer means 18. By advancing screw 35 a. greater depth of the edge of plate P is exposed to hammer means 18 so that the depth of the flange may be increased.

As is best seen in Figure 3, anvil means 17 includes a generally rectangular block 40 which is removably secured to table 11 by hold-down bolts 41. An upstanding boss 42 is permanently secured to table 11 and positioned at the rear end of block 40 to provide a rigid backing support. Block 40 is provided with what may be designated as a corner-forming surface having an upper face 45 and a perpendicular outer face 46 joined together by a 'radiused fillet 47. Both of faces 45 and 46 are preferably slightly crowned, and as 'can be understood, their exact shape is subject to considerable modification depending upon the desired shape'of the flange. In placing plate P on the apparatus, it is initially positioned as shown in Figure 3 with the edge thereof extended outwardly slightly beyond the end of 'upper face '45 and overhanging fillet 47.

Hammer means 18 has a block-like crosshead 50 which is mounted on table 11 for reciprocation along the operating axis. As is best seen in Figures 5 and 6,

crosshead 50 is provided with a pair of upwardly tapered side runners 51 which are adapted to fit within complementally tapered guideways 52 that are secured to table 11. Inorder to compensate for wear and adjust the operating clearance between runners 51 and guideways 52, the latter are fitted between a pair of upstanding brackets 53 that are rigidly secured to table 11 and carry inwardly projecting adjusting screws 54 which bear inwardly against the guideways. To prevent longitudinal movement of guideways 52 and at the same time permit transverse adjustment, hold down bolts 55 fit within transversely slotted openings in the guideways.

"Mounted onthe end of crosshead 50 adjacent forming block 40 is an impact head 58 which-is secured removabl-y in place by bolts 59. Impact head 58 is provided with what may be designated an inwardly-facing cornerforming surface complemental to that of block 40. The surface of head 58 has an end face 60 which joins an overhanging downwardly-locking face 61 at a rounded fillet 62. Face 60 is adapted to move towards and away from the face 46 of block 40 while face 61 overrides the upper face 45 and the top surface of plate P. Both of the faces of impact head 58 are preferably crowned, and like the anvil block 40, head 58 is subject to considerable modification.

Crosshead 50 is driven reciprocably by a connecting rod 65 which extends along the operating axis and is threadedly connected to an eccentric crank 66. A drive shaft 67 is extended across table 11 and supported by end bearings 68. Crank 66 is rotatably fitted upon shaft 67 and upon rotation of the drive shaft, causes reciprocation of connecting rod 65 and crosshead 50 in the usual manner. To drive shaft 67, an electric motor 70 is mounted on support'bracket 14 and is connected to the shaft by pulleys 71 and a belt 72.

To prevent plate P from bending or jumping upwardly upon the impact of head 58 it is desirable to provide hold-down rollers 75 which are spaced outwardly to either side of head 58 and block 40 as is best seen in Figure 2. Rollers 75 are swingably mounted upon supporting rods 76 which are journaled in brackets 77 mounted at the sides of frame 10 and are vertically adjustable relative to the table 11 by means of lower adjusting nut 78. The upper ends of rods 76 are bent to form horizontal arms which support rollers 75, and the arrangement is such that the rollers may be swung conveniently into place after plate 'P is properly placed between clamping discs 20 and 21.

In operation, the opposed surface of "impact head 58 drives against the overhanging edge of plate P to bend the same downwardly towards the outer face 46 of forming block 40. Were the edge of plate P to be linear, the operation would be merely a bending operation such as could be accomplished upon an ordinary press or brake. However, as was previously pointed out, the present invention is adapted to form a flange upon a plate P which has an arcuate edge. Without limiting the use of the invention, the operation may best be understood by considering the example in which such an arcuate edge is of circular shape. It can then be appreciated that the portion of the plate P which subsequently becomes the flange or rim extending perpendicularly to the main body portion is originally an annular ring bounding the plate. This ring portion has an external edge diameter and a necessarily smaller inner diameter when the fianging operation starts. When the flange is finished, the edge diameter of the ring is the same as that of the base at which the ring or flange joins with the main body of the plate P.

To form such afiange it is therefore necessary to work the material .at the edge of the plate in something more than a bending operation. In the present apparatus the material at the edge of the plate P is shifted back away from the peripheral edge so as to form a flange which has a thicker wall than that of the main body portion of the plate. Thus the edge diameter of the plate is eflectively reduced so that the flange can bend downwardly without splitting or tearing. This is accomplished .by the nature of the impact blows delivered by head 58 and the shape of the head and cooperating forming block 40.

As head 58 moves against the edge of plate P it does two things; first it tends to bend .the edge of the plate downwardly as was previously mentioned, and secondly, it tends to drive the material of the plate backwardly and away from the edge. Head surface 60 delivers the impact blows to drive'the material of the plate away from the edge and as the top face '61 of head 58 overrides the top of plate P it strokes or pushes the impacted material back away from the edge to provide a smooth surface so that the wall section is thickened and at the same time gradually takes the shape of the desired flange.

In the operation, plate P is moved or rotated continuously so that a shallow flange is formed along the entire length or circumference of the edge. The depth of the flange is then increased by advancing plate P towards anvil block 40 by use of screw 35 so that more and more of the edge of the plate overhangs the cornerforming surface of the block. As a greater depth of edge of plate P is acted upon by head 58, the wall thickness of the plate is increased to a greater depth and at the same time is bent downwardly to take the shape of the desired flange. The resulting flange is therefore free from tears or splits and is quite strong since the wall strength has not been reduced but in fact increased. This feature makes the use of the apparatus particularly advantageous where the finished plate P is to become a portion of a tank or other pressure-resistant structure.

While I have thus shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention in some detail, it is to be understood that modifications of design and construction can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Therefore, I do not wish to be restricted except in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for forming flanges which includes: a support table; anvil means mounted on said table and having a corner-forming surface; holding means for positioning a plate upon said table with an edge thereof overhanging said anvil; hammer means having a corner-forming surface including an outwardly and downwardly inclined portion extending above said anvil means, said hammer means being mounted for reciprocating movement towards and away from said anvil means along an operating axis extending perpendicular to the overlapping edge of said plate; and means for progressively moving said plate to increase the amount of edge overhang relative to said anvil means.

2. Apparatus for forming flanges which includes: a support table; anvil means mounted on said table and having a corner-forming surface; holding means for positioning a plate upon said table with an edge thereof overhanging said anvil; hammer means having a corner-forming surface including an outwardly and downwardly inclined portion extending above said anvil means, said hammer means being mounted for reciprocating movement towards and away from said anvil means along an operating axis extending perpendicular to the overhanging edge of said plate and in the plane of said plate; means for progressively moving said plate to increase the amount of edge overhang relative to said anvil means; and motor-driven eccentric means for reciprocating said hammer means.

3. Apparatus for forming flanges which includes: a support table; anvil means mounted on said table and having an outwardly facing corner-forming surface; holding means for positioning a plate upon said table with an edge thereof overhanging said anvil; hammer means having a corner-forming surface including an outwardly and downwardly inclined portion extending above said anvil means, said hammer means being mounted for reciprocating movement towards and away from said anvil means along an operating axis extending perpendicular to the overhanging edge of said plate; and means connected with said holding means for progressively moving said plate to increase the amount of edge overhang relative to said anvil means.

4. Apparatus for forming flanges which includes: a support table; anvil means mounted on said table and having an outwardly facing corner-forming surface; holding means for positioning a plate upon said table with an edge thereof overhanging said anvil, said holding means being rotatable about an axis extending perpendicular'to the plane of said plate to turn said plate about said axis; hammer means having a corner-forming surface including an outwardly and downwardly inclined portion extending above said anvil means, said hammer means being mounted for reciprocating movement towards and away from said anvil means along an operating axis extending perpendicular to the overhanging edge of said plate; means connected with said holding means for progressively moving said plate along said operating axis to increase the amount of edge overhang relative to said anvil means; and motor-driven eccentric means for reciprocating said hammer means.

5. Apparatus for forming flanges which includes: a support table; a fixed block mounted on said table and having an outwardly-facing corner-forming surface with a portion thereof generally parallel to the plane of said table and a portion thereof lying generally perpendicular to the plane of said table; holding means for positioning a plate upon said table with an edge thereof extending outwardly over said fixed block; hammer means provided with a movable impact head having a corner-forming surface including an outwardly and downwardly inclined portion which extends above said block, said means being mounted for reciprocation towards and away from said fixed block perpendicular to the overhanging edge of said plate and in the plane of said plate; and means connected with said holding means for progressively moving said plate to increase the amount of edge overhang relative to said fixed block.

6. Apparatus for forming flanges which includes: a support table; a fixed block mounted on said table and having an outwardly-facing corner-forming surface with a portion thereof lying generally parallel to the plane of said table and a portion thereof lying generally perpendicular to the plane of said table; a holding clamp mounted above said table for positioning a plate upon said table with an edge thereof over-hanging said fixed block, said clamp being rotatable about an axis extending perpendicular to the plane of said plate to turn said plate about said axis; hammer means provided with a movable impact head having a corner-forming surface including an outwardly and downwardly inclined portion which extends above said block, said means being mounted for reciprocation towards and away from said fixed block perpendicular to the overhanging edge of said plate and in the plane of said plate; an adjustment screw connected with said holding clamp for progessively moving said clamp towards said fixed block to increase the amount of edge overhang of said plate relative to said fixed block; and motor-driven eccentric means for reciprocating said hammer means.

7. Apparatus for forming flanges which includes: a support table; a horizontal guide track mounted to extend along an operating axis of said table; a carriage slidably mounted in said guide track; anvil means mounted on said table on said operating axis and having a cornerforming surface; a lower clamping jaw rotatably supported on said carriage; an upper clamping jaw supported above said lower jaw for tightening engagement thereagainst to hold a plate extending along said table with an edge thereof overhanging said anvil means; hammer means having a corner-forming surface including an outwardly and downwardly inclined portion extending above said anvil means, said hammer means being mounted for reciprocating movement towards and away from said anvil means along said operating axis; and a lead screw mounted on said table and connected to said carriage for progressively moving said plate along said operating axis.

8. Apparatus for forming flanges which includes: a support table; a horizontal guide track mounted to extend along an operating axis of said table; a carriage slidably mounted in said guide track; a fixed block mounted on said table on said operating axis and having an outwardlyfacing corner forming surface with a portion thereof lying generally parallel to said operating axis and a portion thereof lying generally perpendicular to said operating axis; a lower clamping jaw ro'tatably supported on said carriage; an upper clamping jaw supported above said lower jaw for tightening engagement therewith to hold a plate extending along said table with an edge thereof overhanging said fixed block; hammer means provided with an impact head having a corner-forming surface including an outwardly and downwardly inclined portion which extends above said block, said means being mounted on said table for reciprocation towards and away from said fixed block along said operating axis; a lead screw mounted on said table and connected to said carriage for progressively moving said plate along said operating axis; and motor-driven eccentric means for reciprocating said hammer means.

9. Apparatus for forming flanges which includes: a support table; a horizontal guide track mounted to extend along an operating axis of said table; a carriage slidably mounted in said guide track; a fixed block mounted on said table on said operating axis and having an outwardly-facing corner-forming surface with a portion thereof lying generally parallel to said operating axis and a portion thereof lying generally perpendicular to said operating axis; a lower clamping disc rotatably mounted on said carriage for rotation about a vertical axis intersecting said operating axis; an upper track supported above said table and extending parallel to said guide track; an upper carriage mounted in said upper track for sliding movement therealong; an adjustment stem threadedly engaged in said upper carriage and projecting downwardly therefrom; an upper clamping disc mounted on said stem above said lower disc for holding a plate above said table with an edge thereof overhanging said fixed block; hammer means provided with an impact head having a comer-forming surface including an outwardly and downwardly inclined portion which extends above said block, said means being mounted on said table for reciprocation towards and away from said fixed block along said operating axis; and a lead screw mounted on said table and connected to said carriage for progressively moving said plate along said operating axis.

10. Apparatus for forming flanges which includes: a support table; a horizontal guide track mounted to extend along 'an operating axis of said table; a "carriage slidably mounted in said guide track; a fixed. block mounted on said table on said operating axis and having an ioutwardly-facing corner-forming surface with a portion thereof lying generally parallel to said operating axis and a portion thereof lying generally perpendicular to said operating axis; a lower clamping "disc rotatably mounted on said carriage for-rotation about a vertical axis intersecting said operating axis; an upper track supported above said table and extending parallel to said guide track; an upper carriage mounted in said upper track for sliding movement therealong; an adjustment stern threadedly engaged in -said upper carriage and projecting downwardly therefrom; an upper clamping disc mounted on said stem above said lower disc for holding a plate above said table with an edge thereof overhanging said fixedblock; a hammer mounted for slidingmovement along said operating axis and having an impact head thereon having a cornerforming surface including an outwardly and downwardly inclined portion which extends above said block, a reciprocating mechanism connected to said hammer for moving said hammer towards and away from said fixed block, said mechanism including a rotatable drive shaft and an eccentric mounted thereon; a drive motor connected to said reciprocating mechanism; a lead screw mounted on said table and connected to said carriage for progressively moving said plate along said operating axis; and a pair of outwardly spaced hold down rollers mounted on each side of said fixed block for holding said plate downwardly upon the impact of said hammer.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 440,051 Naylor Nov. 4, 1890 2,646,100 Gibson July 21, 1953 2,742,872 Geertseen Apr. 24, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 12,929 Great Britain of 1886 

